Buoyant-log debarker having bark-removing and log-rotating chains driven in opposite directions



A. C. EDWARDS March 24, 1959 RDI NAI

WHD C mum DGI O 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 19, 1957 INVENTOR. AllenCEdWards i a E March 24, 1959 A. C. EDWARDS BUOYANT-LOG DEBARKER HAVINGBARK-REMOVING AND LOG-ROTATING CHAINS DRIVEN IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONSFiled Aug. 19, 1957 1 2 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Ellen C.Edwards BYUnited States Patent 2,878,843 BUOYANT-LOG DEIBARKER HAVING BARK- MOVINGAND LOG-RGTATING CHAINS DRIV- EN IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS Allen C.Edwards, Portland, Oreg. Application August 19, 1957, Serial No. 678,8249 Claims. (Cl. 144-208) This invention relates to log-barking apparatusand more particularly to log-barking apparatus wherein bark is removedfrom a rotating log advanced through the apparatus.

In the manufacture of lumber products from a log, it has been thepractice first to remove the bark from the log prior to sawing orcutting the log. Machines of various types have been suggested forperforming this operation, including apparatus having mechanism forrotatably supporting a log while advancing the log through barkingmachinery placed adjacent the path of the log, and apparatus whichdepended at least in part upon the buoyancy of the log for supportingthe log while moving the log past the barking machinery. Generally allof the apparatus has been subject to the disadvantage that considerabletime and effort must be expended in positioning the log prior todebarking the log. For instance, those methods which rely on supportingthe log outside the water during the barking operation must provide fortransporting the log to the support structure. Apparatus of this typehas the further disadvantage that it should be of considerable size andstrength if it is to adequately support the log. Methods known to datewhich have utilized the buoyancy of a log in water for supporting thelog have required unwieldy attaching devices for securing the log whileit is being barked, decreasing the efliciency with which a log may behandled.

Generally it is an object of this invention to provide a novellog-barking apparatus for buoyantly supported logs wherein logs may bereadily fed into the apparatus with a minimum of time and effort.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide anapparatus of the type described which employs a gripping or dog chainwith grippingelements about its outer periphery for rotating the' log inthe water against bark-rossing mechanism placed against the log; and toprovide such an apparatus wherein the rossing mechanism'comprises abarking or cutting chain driven across the surface of the log in adirection opposing the rotation imparted to the log by the dog chain.

Another object of the invention is to provide barking apparatusemploying a gripping or dog chain wherein the dog chain moves across thesurface of the log so as to crowd it against an abutment means, and moreparticularly to provide such an apparatus having a dog chain whichengages the surface of the log while moving across the log at an obliqueangle so that the abutment means and dog chain coact to impartlongitudinal movement to the log.

Another object of the invention is to provide a barking apparatusemploying a dog chain and suitable barkrossing mechanism which are bothpivotally mounted to a support adjacent the log to be treated, so thatboth may be readily swung over and into engagement with the surface ofthe log; and to provide with such a barking apparatus a common liftmeans whereby both the dog chain and rossing mechanism may be swung intoand out of engagem'ent with the log. These and other objects andadvantages areattained by the present invention, various novel featuresof which will become disclosed as the following description is read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Patented Mar. 24, 1959 2 Fig. 1 is a top view of apparatus embodying theinvention and a log in process thereunder;

F Fig. 2 is an end view of the apparatus and log in Fig. 3 is a sideview of a portion of the cutting chain employed in the invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a portion of the dog chain employed in theinvention; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a log-barking apparatus embodying thisinvention comprises in general a support structure 10 having an electricmotor 11 and barking mechanism generally indicated at 12 suitablysupported thereon. The support structure 10 is composed of tint bers 13floating in water generally indicated at the level 14. The supportstructure 10 is shown in the form of a float which may be anchored tothe bottom in a suit able manner, although it is obvious that if desiredthe support may be a permanent one which is afiixed to the ground.

An auxiliary platform 16 composed of timbers 17 is secured to thesupport structure 10 and spaced therefrom by cross members 18, uprights19, and diagonals 21. The platform 16 is spaced a suflicient distancefrom the support structure 10 to permit a log to be floated between thetwo structures. As can best be seen in Fig. 2, the platform 16 has apair of timbers stacked one on top of the other located at the inneredge of the platform, these timbers forming an abutment means for logsrevolving thereagainst.

Secured as by bolts 22 to the top side of support struc ture 10 is amounting 23. A pair of brackets 24 presenting upstanding bearingportions are fastened to the top of mounting 23 as by bolts 26.Extending between the upstanding bearing portions of these brackets is a"ice shaft 27. A frame 28 of the barking mechanism 12 having framemembers 29 and 31 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 27, the inner endsof frame members 29 and 31 being rotatably mounted on the shaftintermediate the brackets 24.

Adjacent the shaft 27 and parallel to the shaft is a shaft 32 having itsends rotatably mounted in the frame members 29 and 31. At the outer endof frame 28 parallel to the shaft 32 is another shaft 33 with its endsrotatably supported in the frame members 29 and 31.

Mounted on the shafts 33 and 32 on projections of their ends outside ofthe frame 28 are a pair of cutting chain sprockets 34 and 36,respectively. Another pair of cutting-chain sprockets 37 and 38'aremounted on theshafts 33 and 32 between the, frame members 29, 31adjacent the frame member 31. Encircling sprockets 34 and 36 and engagedthereby is a cutting chain 39, and similarly, encircling sprockets 37and 38 is a second cutting chain 41. The sprockets 36 and 38 are securedto the shaft 32 for rotation with the shaft, whereas the sprockets 34and 37 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 33 for rotation independentlyof the shaft. In this manner, the'cutting chains 39 and 41 are drivensimultaneously in a direction determined by the rotation of shaft 32.

Spaced on the shaft 33 and rotatably mounted on the shaft between theframe member 29, 31 are three dog-chain sprockets 42, 43, and 44.Mounted on the shaft 27 and secured to the shaft for rotation therewithare three complementary dog-chain sprockets 46, 47-, and 48. Encirclingthe sprockets 42 and 46, 43 and 4.7, and 44 and 48 are three 'dog chains49, 51, and 52, re; spectively. Since the sprockets 46, 47, and 48 areeach' nonrotatably affixed to the shaft 27, the dog chains 49, 51, and52 rotate simultaneously in a direction determined by the rotation ofshaft 27.

'Referring to Fig. L-afliited to an outer end of the shaft 32"is a spurgeaasaa'aa affixed" to an outer end of the shaft 27 is spur gear 56, thespur gears 54 and 56 meshing with each other to rotate simultaneously. Apair" of pulleys 57 arenonrotataolysecured to the other end of shaft 27.Encifcling the pulleys 57 are a pair of bclts'58, which are drivenby apairof pulleys 59 secured to a motor shaft 61 of the motor 11. When themotor 11 is energized, the'shaft 27 together with the dog chains 49, 51and 52 are caused to be rotated in a given direction and the spurgear 4,shaft 32, and cutting chains 39, 41 are driven in'the' oppositedirection by the spur gear 56. Therefore, during operation, when thebarking mechanism 12 is positioned across the log to be treated bypivoting the 'free end of frame 28 about the shaft 27 so' that thebarking mechanism lies across the reg, the outer peripheral surfaces ofthe dog chains and cuttingchains will be drawn across the surface of thelog with successive portions ofthe outer periphery of each chainengaging the leg as the chains are driven. As discussed hereinafter, thedogchains are constructed so as to impart rotation to the log, bygrabbing the log. Since the dog chains and cutting chains are travelingin opposite directions, the'log will rotate in a direction opposing thedirection of travel of the log-engaging portions of flights of thecutting chains.

' Means are included for raising the free end of frame 28 by pivotingtheframe about the shaft 27. To this end, a pair of vertical supports 62and 63 are provided with their lower ends secured to the mounting 23 andtheir upper ends braced by brace members 65 and 69. Fixed across theupper ends of the vertical supports is a bracket 64 having a painofupwardly projecting hearing portions. Disposed between the bearingportions of bracket 64 and rotatably mounted therein is a drum 66.Acable 68 extends between the outer or free end of frame 28 anddrum'66fwith one of its ends fastened to a cross bar 75 of the frame 28and the other of its ends wrapped around the drum 6 6. Suitable meanssuch as an electric hoist 67 is provided for rotating the drum 66. Whenthe drum 66 is rotated so as to wrap the cable 68 about the drum, theentire barking mechanism comprising theframe 28, cutting chains 39, 41,and dog chains 49, 51, 52 will be pivoted about the shaft 27.

As can be seen in Figs. 3 and 4, the cutting chains 39 and 41, which aresimilar in construction, each have a series of cutter links 70alternating with and pivotally connected at their ends by pins 71 tosuccessive pairs of connecting links 72, .73. Each of the cutter linkshas a projection carrying a cutting portion 74 which forms the outerperipheral outline of the chain. The cutting portion 74 has a beveledleading edge which is adapted to' cut into the bark of a log and scrapethe bark from the log as it is drawn across the log. With reference toFigs. 5 and 6, the dog chains 49, 51, and 52 each have a series ofgripping links 76 alternating with and connected at their ends by' pins77 to successive pairs of connecting links 78, 79. Each gripping link 76has a curved blade portion 81 which forms the outer peripheral outlineof the chain and is adapted to grab into and pull a log as it travelsacross a log. The gripping elements carried by the dog chains project agreater distance outwardly from the body of the chain, than the cuttingelements project outwardly from the cutting chains. For this reason theywill tend to bite into and grab the surface of a log to a greater extentthan the cutting elements. It should also be noted that three dog chainsare employed in the apparatus illustrated, whereas only two cuttingchains are used. The dog chains therefore tend to impart to the logbeing barked, represented 'by log 53, a rotation determined by thedirection of travel of the log-engaging portions or flights of the dogchains.

1.111 practice, the dog chains are driven so that they enga'g'e thesurface of the-1 heiug-treated while traveling toward the abutment meanswhich limits the lateral movement of the legal 'thewat'er Inthis manner,the log is crowded against the abutment means while rotatingthereagainst. Referring to Fig. 2, in order for the logs to be crowdedagainst the stacked timbers 17 located at the inner edge of platform 16,the dog chains are driven in a counterclockwise direction, so that thelower flights engage the surface of the log while traveling from left toright as viewed in Fig. 2.

The frame 28 is carried by the mounting 23 so that when the frame islowered across the top surface of the log, it lies across the log at anoblique angle. The logcngaging portions or flights of the dog chainsthus travel across the surface of the log'while moving at an obliqueangle o'ver the surface of the log, thereby imparting longitudinalmovement to the log. Because of this longitudinal movement and becauseof the rotation imparted to the log by the dog chains, the log isconstantly turned during the barking process so that successive areas ofthe surface of 'a log are exposed to the bark-rossing mechanism and moreparticularly the cutting chains 39 and 41.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a very convenient and highlypractical apparatus has been devised wherein a log may be barked with aminimum of time and effort. By using the buoyancy of the water tocompletely support the log, the need for support structure for the'logand apparatus for transporting the log to the support structure iseliminated. It should also be apparent that the novel method employedfor rotating the log has a number of'advantages. By providing acontinuous dog chain with gripping elements projecting o'utwardly fromthe'chain toforrri the peripheral outline of the chain, rotation may beimparted to a log simply by lowering'the chain over the surface of thelog. successive logs may be readied for barking merely by pivoting thefree 'end of the barking mechanism upwardly and then lowering thebarking mechanism on the new log inserted into the apparatus. Theabutment means presented by the timbers 17 forms a limiting means forpreventing a lateral displacement of a log while the barking process isunder way. Still further, by driving the dog chains over the surface ofthe log at an oblique angle relative to the log, the dog chains and theabutment means cooperate to impart to the log longitudinal movement andthereby feed successive surface areas of the log into the bark-rossingmechanism comprised of the cutting chains 39 and 41.

I Claim:

1. Log-barking apparatus for a log buoyantly supported in watercomprising an abutment means limiting lateral movement of a log in thewater, a continuous, driven dog'ch'ain having outwardly projectinggripping elements forming the peripheral outline of said dog chain, acontinuous, driven cutting chain having outwardly projecting cuttingelements'forming the peripheral outline ofsaid cutting chain, successiveportions of the outer periphery of each of said chains engaging aperipheral surface of a supported log, said dog chain engaging aperipheral surface of such log so as to rotate such log in a directionopposing the direction of travel of the logengaging portions of saidcutting chain and while moving toward said abutment means therebycrowding such log against said abutment means.

2. Log-barking apparatus for a log buoyantly supported in watercomprising an abutment means limiting lateral movement of a log 'in thewater, a movable frame, a' continuous, driven dog chain mounted on saidframe and having outwardly projecting gripping elements formingtheperipheral'outlineof said dog chain, successive portions of theouter' periphery of said dog chain engagirig aperipheral surface of abuoyantly supported log along the .top ofsuch log only, said dog chainwhen engaging ;a peripheral surface of a log rotating such log, said dogchain engaging a peripheral surface of l9;

while moving obliquely across such log and toward said abutment meansthereby crowding such log toward said abutment means and urginglongitudinal movement of such log relative to the abutment means, andbark-rossing means for removing bark from a log as it rotates againstsaid abutment means.

3. Log-barking apparatus for a log buoyantly supported in watercomprising an abutment means limiting lateral movement of a log in thewater, a continuous, driven dog chain having outwardly projectinggripping elements forming the peripheral outline of said dog chain,successive portions of the outer periphery of said dog chain engaging aperipheral surface of a log While moving toward said abutment means soas to rotate such log against said abutment means, a continuous, drivencutting chain having outwardly projecting cutting elements forming theperipheral outline of said cutting chain, successive portions of theouter periphery of said cutting chain engaging a peripheral surface ofsuch log while moving in a direction opposing the rotation of such log,said dog chain engaging a peripheral surface of such log while movingobliquely across such log so as to urge longitudinal movement of suchlog relative to said abutment means.

4. Log-barking apparatus for a log buoyantly sup ported in watercomprising a support, an abutment means limiting lateral movement of alog in the water, and a log-barking mechanism pivotally mounted on saidsupport and positionable over a log adjacent said abutment means, saidbarking mechanism including a continuous, driven dog chain havingoutwardly projecting gripping elements forming the peripheral outline ofsaid dog chain, a continuous, driven cutting chain having outwardlyprojecting cutting elements forming the peripheral outline of saidcutting chain, successive portions of the outer periphery of each ofsaid chains engaging a peripheral surface of a supported log, said dogchain engaging a peripheral surface of such log so as to rotate such login a direction opposing the direction of travel of the logengagingportions of said cutting chain and while moving toward said abutmentmeans thereby crowding such log toward said abutment means.

5. Log-barking apparatus for a log buoyantly supported in watercomprising a support, an abutment means limiting lateral movement of alog in the water, and a logbarking mechanism pivotally mounted on saidsupport and positionable over a log adjacent said abutment mean, saidbarking mechanism including a continuous, driven dog chain havingoutwardly projecting gripping elements forming the peripheral outline ofsaid dog chain, successive portions of the outer periphery of said dogchain engaging a peripheral surface of a buoyant log so as to rotatesuch log, said dog chain being constructed and arranged to engage aperipheral surface of a buoyantly supported log along the top of suchlog only, said dog chain engaging a peripheral surface of a log whilemoving obliquely across such log and toward said abutment means therebycrowding such log toward said abutment means and urging longitudinalmovement of such log relative to said abutment means.

6. Log-barking apparatus for a log buoyantly supported in watercomprising a support, an abutment means limiting lateral movement of alog in the Water, and a logbarking mechanism pivotally mounted on saidsupport and positionable over a log adjacent said abutment means, saidbarking mechanism including a continuous, driven dog chain havingoutwardly projecting gripping elements forming the peripheral outline ofsaid dog chain, successive portions of the outer periphery of said dogchain engaging a peripheral surface of a log while moving to ward saidabutment means so as to rotate such log against said abutment means, acontinuous, driven cutting chain having outwardly projecting cuttingelements forming the peripheral outline of said cutting chain,successive portions of the outer periphery of said cutting chainengaging a peripheral surface of a log while moving in a directionopposing the rotation of such log, said dog chain engaging a peripheralsurface of such log while moving obliquely across such log so as to urgelongi tudinal movement of such log relative to said abutment means.

7. Log-barking apparatus for a log supported for rotation andlongitudinal movement comprising a support, and a log-barking mechanismpivotally mounted to said support, said log-barking mechanism having apivotable frame, a power-driven, continuous dog chain mounted in saidframe, said dog chain having outwardly projecting gripping elementsforming the peripheral outline of said dog chain, a power-driven,continuous cutting chain mounted in said frame parallel to said dogchain, said cutting chain having outwardly projecting cutting elementsforming the peripheral outline of said cutting chain, said dog andcutting chains being driven in opposed directions, successive portionsof the outer periphery of each of said chains engaging a peripheralsurface of a log to be barked, said dog chain rotating a log to bebarked in a direction opposing the direction of travel of thelog-engaging portions of said cutting chain.

8. Log-barking apparatus for a log buoyantly supported in watercomprising a support, an abutment means limiting lateral movement of alog in'the Water, and a log-barking mechanism pivotally mounted on saidsupport and positionable across a log lying adjacent said abutmentmeans, said log-barking mechanism comprising a frame, a power-driven,continuous dog chain mounted in said frame and having outwardlyprojecting gripping elements forming the peripheral outline of said dogchain, a power-driven, continuous cutting chain mounted in said frameparallel to said dog chain and having outwardly projecting cuttingelements formingthe peripheral outline of said cutting chain, said dogand cutting chains being driven in opposed directions, successiveportions of the periphery of each of said chains engaging a peripheralsurface of a log to be barked, said dog chain engaging such surfacewhile moving toward said abutment means thereby crowding such logagainst said abutment means.

9. Log-barking apparatus for a log buoyantly supported in watercomprising a support, an abutment means limiting lateral movement of alog in the water, and a log-barking mechanism pivotally mounted on saidsupport and positionable across a log lying adjacent said abutmentmeans, said log-barking mechanism comprising a frame, a power-driven,continuous dog chain mounted in said frame and having outwardlyprojecting gripping elements forming the peripheral outline of said dogchain, a power-driven, continuous cutting chain mounted in said frameparallel to said dog chain and having outwardly projecting cuttingelements forming the peripheral outline of said cutting chain, said dogand cutting chains being mounted in said frame to lie at an obliqueangle across a log to be barked and being driven in opposed directions,successive portions of the periphery of each of said chains engaging aperipheral surface of a log to be barked, said dog chain engaging suchlog while moving toward said abutment means at an oblique angle acrosssuch log thereby crowding such log against said abutment means andurging longitudinal movement of such log relative to said abutmentmeans.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,139,012 Beadle May 11, 1915 2,259,584 Prentice Oct. 21, 1941 2,642,904Pearce June 23, 1953 2,831,515 Potts Apr. 22, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS16,549 Norway July 8,1907

